Call by
Musa to whistle-blowers to expose graft in police just not good enough as it
can be no substitute for IPCMC

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Media Statementby Lim Kit Siang
___________________

(Parliment,
Saturday) :The call by the new
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan to whistle-blowers to step
forward to expose graft in the police is good publicity, given front-page
headline treatment today by The Star, but it is just not good enough as it
can be no substitute for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct
Commission designed to ensure that we have a clean, incorruptible,
efficient, professional, human rights-sensitive world-class police service.

Musa
welcomed whistle-blowers, including those from within the police force, to
join in the fight against graft.

He said: “If
you have concrete evidence against any police officer, even your superior,
who abuses his power or is corrupt, you can come and see me. I can guarantee
protection of the informant.”

Lets face
it. If Musa is serious in wanting to eradicate corruption in the police
force, he can set the personal example of taking action against police
officers who are living beyond their means completely disproportionate to
their lawful income sources, which he cannot be ignorant having risen all
the way to be the No. 1 Policeman in the country.

If he cannot
move personally against police officers who have a strong case to answer as
to the legitimacy of the sources of their lavish lifestyles completely
disproportionate to their known sources of income, he cannot be serious in
wanting junior police officers to give information on corrupt practices of
their superiors.

After the
submission of the Royal Police Commission Report and its 125 recommendations
to have a professional world-class police service with the triple objective
to reduce crime, fight corruption and uphold human rights, the then
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Bakri Musa attended the 25th
Asean Police Conference (Aseanpol) in Bali where he virtually declared war
against corruption in the police force, as headlined by the Utusan Malaysia
front-page report “Hentikan rasuah – KPN” on 20th May 2005.

Nothing has
come out of it. Nor had the introduction of anti-graft badges on the
uniform of police officers since November last year made any dent on the
problem of corruption in the police service.

If Musa is
seriously committed to combat corruption in the police service, and not just
follow in the rhetoric of his predecessor, then he must demonstrate
leadership by giving unstinting support for the immediate establishment of
IPCMC, ending all negative police opposition to it although constructive
proposals like the introduction of an appeal mechanism in the IPCMC system
would be welcome even by MPs, regardless of political party.